Air Fiesta returns to Kirtland Air Force Base after six-year hiatus
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Kirtland Air Force Base is getting ready to host Air Fiesta 2025. The promised guests include a dynamic lineup of aerial demonstrations and static displays. Air Fiesta is returning after a six-year hiatus.
Story continues below
Entertainment: First-of-its-kind indoor pickleball facility coming to northeast Albuquerque
Community: Albuquerque church leaning on faith after 2 members killed by their son
Environment: What should New Mexicans do if they come across a raccoon?
The event takes place Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1. Gates open at 8 a.m., and the show closes at 5 p.m. Guests can see a lineup of performances by the U.S. Army Golden Knights, the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, Shaw Air Force Base, a showcase from the 58th Special Operations Wing, and more. The event is free to attend. For civilians who don't have access to the base, Kirtland has set up a park-and-ride system to bring members of the public on base for the event.
Park and Ride Locations:
Isleta Amphitheater/Mesa Del Sol
Gateway Center (Gibson)
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
USS Bullhead Memorial Park
For more information, including a detailed breakdown of shows and displays, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Pilots practice ahead of Kirtland Air Force Base's Air Fiesta this weekend
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Precision in the sky. That's the goal this weekend at Kirtland Air Force Base, as their popular Air Fiesta returns after a long hiatus. Story continues below Crime: Albuquerque business owner faces murder charge for shooting fleeing shoplifter News: Las Vegas deputy charged with aggravated battery and robbery Business: A downtown Albuquerque shoe shine parlor is still serving patrons after nearly a century Events: What's happening around New Mexico May 30-June 5? Kirtland Air Fiesta and more After six years, Kirtland Air Force Base's Air Fiesta is back, and on Friday, they were out practicing for this weekend's event. 'You want to make sure that you've got your tactics down pat. You want to make sure that you know your routine is tight because this is the first air show in six years. You don't want to go out there and disappoint. We want everything to be perfect. We want precision out there,' said Chief of Media at the Kirtland Air Force Base Public Affairs Office, Robert Smith. Base officials said this weekend's event was two years in the making, and although the fiesta hasn't happened in six years, they hope, after this year, to make it every two to three years: a chance for the general public to see the Air Force in action. 'Not everybody gets to see these things on a day-to-day basis,' said Smith. From cargo planes to vintage planes, visitors can get an up-close look at powerful aircraft on the ground and in the sky. Smith added, 'For those of us on Kirtland, you see some of the cargo aircraft, but we don't see these fighter aircraft every day.' With demonstrations of how the planes refuel mid-air and some big performances too, including the U.S. Army's parachute team, the Golden Knights. The event is free to the public. Gates open at 8 a.m. and the event runs until 5 p.m. Visitors are asked to go to one of the park and ride locations, including the Isleta Amphitheater and Gateway Center on Gibson. 'All you do is park there, we get you here, have a great time, and then we'll bus you right back,' said Smith. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Japanese Garden at ABQ BioPark Botantic Garden closed through Tuesday
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Sasebo Japanese Garden at the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden will be closed this weekend. The ABQ Biopark said starting Friday, the section of the garden will be closed to the public while crews install tracks for the new train system coming to the heritage farm. 'Pictures of Hope' exhibit featured at the Albuquerque Museum Construction is expected to wrap up on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Strong action will be taken for planes, drones violating G7 no-fly zone, says RCMP
CALGARY — The RCMP says air restrictions will be in place in two main areas during the upcoming G7 Leaders' Summit in Alberta this June and officials will make sure that no unwanted drones or aircraft enter airspace. Sgt. Mark Basanta from RCMP Protective Operations said the no-fly zones will include both the Calgary International Airport and Kananaskis, where the leaders will be. He said the radius at Kananaskis Village will be 30 nautical miles (56 kilometres), while it will be 20 nautical miles (37 kilometres) at the airport. The restrictions are set to begin at 6 a.m. June 14 and remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on June 17. Basanta said unauthorized aircraft and drones will be met by RCMP or Canadian Forces aircraft and could be shot down as a last resort. "Shooting is an extreme measure, but yeah, we have the capability to take them down," Basanta said Friday in an aircraft hangar at the Springfield airport, located on Calgary's western edge. "Our hope is if they're heading towards it, there will be a broadcast over their frequency and basically they'll be told to change their heading," he added. "Short of doing that, they can expect to be intercepted by the Canadian Armed Forces that are flying. They will be met. They will be intercepted. We do have F-18s flying a combat air patrol. Hopefully that's enough of a deterrent." Canada will host leaders from the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy, as well as the European Union at the meeting scheduled from June 15 to 17. Basanta said his biggest concern is the use and popularity of drones. He said there will be a counter-drone team deployed in the Kananaskis region to curb their behaviours. "We have a lot of people in the country, a lot of drone enthusiasts that will be flying, but we do have measures where we can take them down," Basanta said. He didn't specify what the measures could be but said drones pose a "grave risk." "Our main concern is the hobbyists flying the drones inadvertently flying into the aircraft. A threat from a drone is one thing ... it's also ensuring the safety of our own aircraft that are in the air." In January, a California man was charged after operating a drone that crashed into a Quebec water bomber fighting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. The CL-415 plane was grounded after the small remote-controlled aircraft flew into it on Jan. 9, leaving a sizable hole in its wing. Basanta said the restrictions will not affect regularly scheduled commercial flights. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025. Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
